Countries in the Asia-Pacific are expecting 5G to be deployed starting this year, the Philippines included. Mobile phone brands have already announced their 5G products which they expect to sell immediately once 5G is switched on. In spite of this, Palo Alto Networks predicts that 4G will remain a priority over 5G in 2020.
According to their report, 4G has just been rolled out in some APAC countries and would take time before they go to 5G. Also, forecasts by GSMA shows that 4G will still account for 68% of global mobile users by 2025 in the same region.
There’s a bigger problem. Mobile ISPs could be the first point of failure during a cyberattack. If security risks are not addressed in 4G networks, vulnerabilities like IoT systems will become greater for those under 5G. Palo Alto Networks said that 4G will continue to be targeted by hackers as a potential gateway to 5G networks over the next few years. They suggest new approach to cybersecurity in dealing with this problem, such as adopting a preventive approach to security, increasing levels of security automation, establishing contextual security outcomes and integrating security functions with APIs.
Speaking of cybersecurity, Palo Alto Networks also predicts the demand of cybersecurity in 2020 will continue to outstrip the supply until there is a fundamental change in mindset. While automation is going to be a key element in the future of cybersecurity, they suggest on harnessing skill sets that cannot be automated. They should focus on problem-solving, communication and collaboration.
